Inside the mysterious new Manchester bar where men aren't supposed to talk to women first

In 1930s Tokyo, a series of underground clubs were the place to be. These underground meeting points, known as ‘kissas’, served as a space where jazz music - and other western cultural imports which would be frowned upon in wartime - could be enjoyed by the cognoscenti.

These venues were inconspicuous in nature, but also governed by particular codes of behaviour. Nocturnal and atmospheric, you can see why the latest bar to dock in Manchester has drawn inspiration from these discreet watering holes.

Dear Sailor opens its doors in Manchester this weekend, and purposefully, very little has been reported about. No press releases, no major marketing campaigns and an invite-only Instagram account means its arrival has been characterised by a heightened sense of intrigue.

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However, its position - right in the middle of Spinningfields - might make it a bit trickier to maintain that air of mystery for too much longer. Situated just next to the recently launched Sexy Fish - an establishment that had very few qualms about making a big and bold entrance - Dear Sailor isn’t designed to compete or jostle with its neighbours.

“We see ourselves as more of an extension to other venues rather than going head to head,” explains Christian Coates, one of Dear Sailor’s co-owners. “With Sexy Fish next door we’re the perfect place to meet for pre-dinner drinks and then you can come back afterwards and finish your evening off here as well - we’re almost like a hotel bar.

“On Fridays and Saturdays we’ll be open until 3am, which nods back to the kissas-